ACCOUNTING
TENTH CANADIAN EDITION
Kieso • Weygandt • Warfield • Young • Wiecek • McConomy
CHAPTER 1
The Canadian
Financial
Reporting
Environment
Prepared by:
Dragan Stojanovic, CA
Rotman School of Management,
University of Toronto
CHAPTE
1
R
The Canadian Financial Reporting Environment
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
• Explain how accounting makes it possible to use scarce resources more efficiently.
• Explain the meaning of “stakeholder” and identify key stakeholders in financial reporting, explaining what is at stake for each one.
• Identify the objective of financial reporting.
• Explain how information asymmetry and bias interfere with the objective of financial reporting.
• Explain the need for accounting standards.
• Identify the major entities that influence the standard-setting process and explain how they influence financial reporting.
• Explain the meaning of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
• Explain the significance of professional judgement in applying GAAP.
• Discuss some of the challenges and opportunities for accounting.
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Ltd.
2
The Canadian Financial Reporting
Environment
Financial
Statements and
Financial
Reporting
• Accounting and capital allocation • Stakeholders
• Objective of financial reporting
• Information asymmetry Standard
Setting
• Need for standards • Parties involved in standard setting
Challenges and
GAAP
Opportunities for the
• GAAP
Accounting Profession hierarchy • Professional• Oversight in the capital marketplace judgement
• Centrality of ethics
• Standard setting in a political environment
• Principles versus rules
• Impact of technology
• Integrated reporting
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Ltd.
3
Characteristics of
Accounting
•
•
Accounting identifies, measures, and communicates financial information to various users (decision makers)
Accounting has two broad classifications:
1. Financial accounting
2. Managerial accounting
•
Accounting theory and practice have evolved and will continue to evolve to meet changing demands and influences
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4
Characteristics of
Accounting
1. Identification, measurement, and communication of financial information about; 2. Economic entities to;
3. Interested persons.
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Ltd.
5
5
Financial Reporting
• Financial accounting results in preparation of financial reports about business activities
• Financial reporting is used by both internal and external users
• External users include such decision makers as investors, creditors, unions, and government agencies • Managerial accounting is used by management
(internal users only)
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6
Financial Statements and
Other Means of Financial
Reporting
• Major financial statements include:
•
•
•
•
Balance Sheet
Income Statement
Cash Flow Statement
Statement of Retained Earnings
+ Note Disclosures
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Financial Reporting
• Other forms of financial reporting include:
•
•
•
•
•
President’s letter
Prospectuses
Government reporting
News releases
Management forecasts
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8
Accounting and Capital
Allocation
• Financial reporting aids users in the allocation of scarce resources (capital)
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9
Accounting and Capital
Allocation
• The accounting profession has the responsibility of measuring a company’s performance accurately, fairly, and on a timely basis
• These measurements enable investors and creditors to compare the income and assets employed by companies
• Investors can then assess the relative risks and returns associated with companies
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10
Capital Allocation Process
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Ltd.
11
Accounting and Capital
Allocation
• In Canada, the primary exchange mechanisms for allocating resources